Brake beam with frictionally mounted head



Vu'g. l, 1950 L.. GOTHBERG 2,517,199

` BRAKE BEAM WITH FRICTIONALLY MOUNTED HEAD 'Filed Sept. 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 xNvr-:NToR

- 36 LAWRENCE GOTHBERG Augl; 1950 l,... GOTHBERG 2,517,199

BRAKE -BEAM WITH FRICTIONALLY MOUNTED HEAD Filed Sept. 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 :NVENTOR LAWRENCE GOTHBERG ATTRNEY Patented Aug. l, l 1950 BRAKE BEAM WITH FRICTIONAIQLY MOUNTED `HEAD Lawrence Gothberg,` Alpha, Iowa, assigner to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corl poration of New Jersey Application September 9, 1946, Serial No. 695,607

My invention relates to railway brake equipment and more particularly to amechanism for frictionally resisting the pivoting of a brake head at its point of connection to anassociated brake beam, such mechanism being commonly known as a brake head balancing device.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel brake head balancing device of practical form and simple design such as may perform elflciently under service conditions. u i l The invention includes a novel locking device or means for securingI the brake head on abrake beam, saiddevice including means for limiting the rotation of said head on said beam as well as means for frictionally resisting movement thereof whereby the head is adapted to 'be maintained in proper relation tothe wheel associated therewith. l. l

This and other objects will be apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:`

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a brake mechanism embodying myinvention;

l Figure Zis a view in endelevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; l

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure i1- lustrated in Figure 1the view being taken in the transverse vertical plane substantially as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 being a sectional view thereof taken substantially in the plane approximatelyas indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 2; and Figure 5` being a sectional, view thereof taken substantially in the plane represented by line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a View similar to that ilustrated in Figure 3 and showing a modification of my invention, Figure 7 being a sectional view thereof taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line 'l--l of Figure 6; and Figure 8 being, a further sectional view thereof taken in the plane substantially as indicated by line 8--8of Figure 6.

Describing my invention in detail and referring to `Figures 1-5, inclusive, the brake head 2 comprises the spaced side walls 4 and 6 provided with parallel bearing portions 8 and IU respectively, said head having a transverse wa11l|2 extending between said side walls and merging therewith.

Mounted on the brake head 2 in the usual manner is the brake shoe I4 provided for braking engagement with the rim of a wheel `(not shown).

Intermediate the `brake head walls 4 and E is positioned a hanger I6 which is in the form of a connecting rod having a bearing portion I8 interposed between said side walls 4 and 6 aligned with the bearing portions 8 and I thereof, the upper end (not shown) l of` the hanger being connected 17 Claims. (Cl. 18S-221.6)

to associated supporting means (not shown) in usual manner;

l The brake beam 20 is shown as bein-g formed with a shoulder or collar 22 beyond which is a journal portion in the form of a trunnion 24 carrying a bushing 26 press-tted thereon. The trunnion 24 extends through the opening 28 in the brake head bearing portion 8, through an opening 3U in the hanger bearing portion I8 and into the opening 32 in the brake head bearing portion IU, the end of said trunnion being spaced from the inturned annular flange or friction member 34 formed integrally with the outer edge of the brake head bearing portion l0.

wIn the trunnion end 24 is provided the axial bore 38 extending longitudinally of the beam, the innermost portion ofsaid bore being threaded as at 31 and of reduced diameter for a purpose hereinafter described, and at the open end` of said bore are formed the diametrically opposed arcuate slots 38, 38, as illustrated in Figure 5.. l

Associated with the outer end of the trunnion is a locking structure or retaining device including the annular friction plate 40, said plate having the spaced lugs 42, 42 on one side thereof snugly fitted into the aforementioned slots 38, 38 in the trunnion 24.` l

Conned in said bore 36 between said plate 4D and the rear of said bore is the coil spring 44 seated in said bore as at 46 at one end and as at 48 against said plate at the other end and urging said plate into frictional engagement as at 50 with said annularange 34 on said brake head bearing portion i0. On the opposite face of the plate 40 are formed the spaced lugs 54, 54 extending into the diametrically opposed arcuate slots 56, 56 formed in said flange 34.

Against the outer face of the ange 34 may be disposed the other principal part of the retaining device, said parts being in the form of an annular plate 58 having the spaced lugs 60, 6|] formed on the inner face thereof, said lugs 60, 60 extending into said arcuate slots 55, 56 in said iiange 34 and meshing with the the lugs 54, 54 on the plate 40 in a manner as `may be observed in Figure 4, wherein it may be noted that the top lugs 54, 54 on the plate 40 receive therebetween the top lug 6D on the plate 58, and the bottom lug 54011 the plate 40 is fitted between the spacedbottom lugs 60, on the plate 58.`

The locking device as a whole may be secured to the trunnion24 by` means of a bolt 62 extending through aligned central openings 64, 66and 68`in the plate 58, flange 34 and plate 40 respectively and through the coil spring 44, said bolt In a `brake lpivot element, a brake head pivotally mounted gagement of bothof` said members with said head.

rigging, thel combination of a thereon, and means for securing said head to said element, said means comprisinga member nonrotatably connected to said elementand` clis-4 posed against `said head, arcuate slots in said head, lugs on said member extending through said slots, and a plate disposed againstsaid head and having `lugs meshingvvith` the -lugs on said member, certain of said lugs-being adapted .for abutment with edges of said slots to limit rotational movement of saidhead on said element.

5. In a brake rigging, a brake beam, a brake head rotatable thereon, a friction device, means for `locking said device to said beam, said device including a set of plates clasping a flange portion of said head therebetween, means interlocking said plates against relativerotation, resilient meansoperatively associated with said plates for `causing frictional engagementof `said plates with said portion for resisting the rotation of said head on said beam, and abutments on saidhead adapted to engage said interlocking means to limit the rotation of said head on said beam.

6. In a brake arrangement, in'lcombination, a brake beam having a trunnion end, a brake head rotatably` mounted on said end, friction means comprising spaced members frictionally engaging surfaces on said head, means nonrotatably connecting said members, interengaging means on said end and one of said members for holding said members against rotation on said end, resilient means operatively associated with said end and said members for causing the latter to engage said surfaces, and means for locking said head and said friction means to said trunnion end.

'7. The combination of a supporting member, a brake head pivotally mounted thereon, means for holding said head on said member and to resist the rotation thereof, said means including a pluralitr7 of friction elements nonrotatably connected to each other and to said supporting member, a friction member on the head between said elements, resilient means operatively associated with said elements and supporting member, causing frictional engagement of all of said elements with said friction member, and stop means on each of said elements and said head for limiting the rotation of said head on said supporting member.

8. In a brake rigging, the combination of a brake beam having a trunnion end, a brake head mounted thereon, a plurality of elements nonrotatably connected to each other and to said end, resilient means operable to cause said elements to frictionally engage said head for resisting rotational movement of said head on said end, the connection between said elements including interlocking means on said elements arranged to accommodate movement of said elements against said head, said interlocking means also serving as stops for limiting movement of said head on said end.

9. In a brake arrangement, the combination of a pivot element, a brake head pivoted thereon, friction means including spaced friction members embracing a portion of said head for resisting pivotal movement thereof, interengaging means n said members for holding them against relative rotation, means on one of said members and on said element for holding said member against rotation relative to said element and means connecting said friction means with said element.

10. In a brake arrangement, in combination, a pivot element, a brake head mounted thereon, retaining means for `securing said head on said element including spaced members arranged to move axially of said element frictionally clasping a portion of said head therebetween, interlocking means on said members nonrotatably interconnecting the same, interlocking means on `one .of said members and on said element for holding` said members against rotation relative to said element, and means connecting said membersto said element.

l1. `The combination of a supporting member, a brake head mounted thereon adjacent the end thereof, securing means for said head connected to the end of said member and comprising friotionally cooperating members movable arially of saidwelement and ciasping a portion of said head therebetween, and means for limiting the rotational movement of said head on said end.

12. The combination with a pivot element, of a retainer comprising a plate disposed at one end of said element, means for interlocking said plate with said element against relative rotation, and means for securing said plate to said element comprising a bolt extending axially through `said plate and said rst-mentioned means and into said element and in threaded engagement with the latter, said bolt comprising a head with ilat sides, a member sleeved on said bolt between said plate and head, a ledge on said plate in engagement with said member and locking said plate and member against relative rotation, said member having a portion bent over one of the sides of said head in overlapping relationship therewith transaxially of said bolt to prevent relative rotation between said bolt and member.

13. The combination with a pivot element, a retainer at one end of said element, interengaging means on said element and retainer interlocking the same against relative rotation, a bolt securing said retainer to said element and maintaining said means in interengaging relationship, said bolt having a shank extending axially into said end of said element in threaded engagement therewith, said shank extending through said means and said retainer and having a head at the end thereof remote from said element outwaidly of said retainer, a member sleeved on said shank between said head and retainer, and a surface on said retainer spaced from said shank and facing the same and engaging a complementary surface on said member to prevent relative rotation between said retainer and member, said member having a portion extending axially of said shank and engaging a iiat side of said head to prevent rotation of said bolt with respect to said member and unthreading of said bolt with respect to said element.

14. In a brake head mounting, a pivot element, a brake head pivoted thereon, said head having a portion overlapping one end of said element, a member between said end of said element and the adjacent side of said portion of the head and interlocked with said element against rotation relative thereto and in frictional engagement with said portion, means connected to said element disposed against the other side of said portion, resilient means reacting between said element and member urging the latter against said portion and said portion against said means, and means on raam; 1,69

'said l member f for limiting the rotationof said hea'd on said-element.

15.`Inra brake head mounting, a pivotl element, a brake head rotatablyV supportedthereon,flock l-ing means for securing said head onrsaid element `embracing a portion oi the head, resilient means disposed. between said locking means and fsaid Lelement for causing said Alocking means to tightly embrace said portion of the head therebetween,

"and means for preventing rotational movement between said element and said` locking means. y

16. 'The combination with a pivot memberfof 'a brake head pivoted thereon and comprising'a wall extending transversely of said member, frictionvelernents disposed at opposite sides of said Wall in engagement therewith, means foi-.interlocking said elements and member against relative rotation, and means for urging said elements against said wall and including means for securing said elements to said member, and interen gaging stop means on said wail and elements for limting pivoting ei said head on said member.

17. In a brake arrangement, a pivoti element, a brake head pivotedthereon and comprising a Wall extending transversely of said element, a bolt extending axially of said element in threaded engagement therewith at one end and having a head with flat sides at its other end, retainer means mounted on said bolt betweenthe head thereof and said elementrin engagement with said 'Wall to resist pivoting-0f said brake'head and interloeked with said element against relative roltation-an'd movable'.` on the bolt f-ax-iallyl thereof, afsuface onsaid retainermeans facing saidbolt anddisposedzadjacent the headl of.:said=bo1t,a

"memberm'ountedzo'n said bolt-and movable"Y axially thereof and engaging said surface and a sidelof said Aheadyfofl said boltto` prevent relative rotationbetween-the boltandvsaid retainer means i to prevent the `bolt from unthreadng 1withl're- -spect1to said element, Aand resilient `xneansireacting *between said element and vsaid r retainer vmeans for surging therlatter-against said Wall fandf-said Amember andsaid member against said rbolt headffor maintaining said surface invengage- .-Fment fwith-Lsaidmemberland'- said 'meinber-E in-enf-gagementfwith vthe( sidefoffsaid bolthead.

'- REFERENCES YCITED YThe*"following references are of recordnthe le of' this patent:

UNI-TED STATES PATENTS 

